MSU's Founding & Sophie Kurys' Legacy| May 14

On this day in 1857, Michigan Agricultural College held its first classes. Established by the Michigan Legislature two years earlier, the college initially offered only agricultural studies. Enrollment was just 63 students, a stark contrast to the tens of thousands at Michigan State University today. And in 1925, Sophie Kurys, known as ‘The Flint Flash,’ was born. Playing for the Racine Belles in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, she stole over one-thousand bases in her career. In 1946, she set a record with 201 stolen bases in 203 attempts, a feat still unmatched in MLB. Kurys played in skirts on gravel infields, embodying both grace and athleticism.